GENERATION UTØYA STANDS STRONG AT HOT DOCS 2021

The Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival always inspires audiences by showing films of courage and strength. Eight years ago on the island of Utøya in Norway, 500 young people gathered to represent their position for democracy. Things went south quickly when a car bomb blew up in Oslo. Followed by an attack from right-wing terrorist Anders Behring Breivik on the youth political training ground. It was horrific and tragic as many as 69 young people were brought to their death. 33 people were seriously injured while others ran for their lives trying to escape the 72 minutes of terror. The massacre became the most violent incident to have taken place on Norwegian soil since WWII.

Director Aslaug Holm and Sigve Endresen directs Generation Utøya which premieres at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival. It’s a portrait of four survivors from the massacre. Now they are at different points in their lives but recount their rendition of what took place eight years ago. Renate, Ina, Line and Kamzy are all still politically active despite the attack. They still stand up to and have the courage to fight for democracy in Norway. These female survivors know that there is no room ever for aggressive and violent attacks from right-wing extremists.

Kamzy

Kamzy appears to be the strongest of the four survivors. She actually swam to shore in order to survive the attack. When she tells this story, it is actually shocking yet inspiring. Her response to this massacre is much different than the others. Being from Sri Lanka and not being “Norwegian enough” to head the Oslo constitution day celebration is her everyday struggle. Although, she is more than active when it comes to campaigning for the Labour Party. To see her work is inspiring to her generation who bear the differences that are not embraced by society.

Ina

Words cannot explain the journey Ina has taken since the attack. She took four bullets from the terrorist and had to take extreme measures to survive the massacre. She was in the hospital for a long time but when she came out there was no stopping her. Ina put her heart and soul into politics by being a climate activist in the Labour Party. In Generation Utøya, you see her lead the fight in scaling down oil extraction and for better humane refugee policies. Ina is one of a kind knowing from experience that anything can be away from you in an instant. She wastes no time fighting for what she believes with the Labour Party and her followers in Utøya.

Line

People react differently to situations especially when they are as traumatic as the massacre on the island of Utøya. Line survived by running across the island to escape the shooter. Line to this day is still trying to recover from the incident. She still needs therapy and has post-traumatic stress which makes it difficult to do her job as a social worker. Line also tries to keep physically active to fight the trauma and remains politically active in her home town Kristiansund. Her courage to fight against this type of trauma and stress is immeasurable.

Renate

Renate’s account of what happened during the day of the massacre was excruciating. After seeing others just like her jump out of windows and run hysterically out of doors was chaotic. Renate was lucky to find a washroom where she curled up against the toilet. This lasted for the whole 72 minutes duration of the attack. She herself did not consider herself that lucky because if the shooter found her, there would have been no escape. She was able to call the police through her phone. Renate remains politically active by reclaiming the island of Utøya as a centre for democracy and free speech.

There are layers to Generation Utøya that both directors Aslaug Holm and Sigve Endresen address in this film. One thing that stands out for us here on FERNTV is the four survivor’s acceptance that things will never be the same for them again. The massacre was a complete turning point and forever life-changing. It’s their acceptance and struggles to move on from this traumatic event that is the most inspiring to us all. Their overall resilience within their ups and downs shows that their confidence will never be backed into a corner again.

The response of the four survivors shows their true colours and their passion for human rights. Specifically, that violence should not be prevented with more violence. Rather, words and expression through appropriate actions are means of solving the complicated issues that polarize us all. This documentary Generation Utøya is an example of how one is kicked repeatedly when they are down. But when they finally get back up, they will never again let their guard down.

Click the video below to watch our interview with director Aslaug Holm who discusses the process of making the documentary Generation Utøya

Watch Spirit to Soar now at Hot Docs by clicking this link